Tit for tat: India removes Pak high commission queue liners

NEW DELHI witnessed the removal of queue liners and encroachments outside the Pakistan high commission visa section on Wednesday. The authorities acted in response to a similar move by Pakistan outside the Indian high commission in Islamabad earlier in the week. Indian official sources stated that the liners were taken from a side lane, not the main gate, and that the response was commensurate with Pakistan's action.

India hopes the matter will conclude here, but warns that the government will respond accordingly if Pakistan escalates the situation. The ties between India and Pakistan remain frozen since last year, following the Pahalgam terror attack, when the strength of high commissions was reduced from 55 to 30. Despite the freeze, both nations maintain functional engagements, such as DGMO-level talks, missile testing exchanges, nuclear facility lists, and prisoner custody exchanges.

India categorically denies having any Track-2 dialogue with Pakistan. Footage from the scene showed the aftermath of India's action, with debris scattered outside the mission, including broken railings, gates, twisted metal frames, roofing sheets, bricks, and concrete chunks. The main entrance of the high commission remained undamaged, retaining its white walls, dome, and metal gates featuring the Pakistani emblem.